Neuroprotective effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in rodent and primate models of Alzheimer's disease.

ABSTRACT: Profound neuronal dysfunction in the entorhinal cortex contributes to early loss of short-term memory in Alzheimer's disease. Here we show broad neuroprotective effects of entorhinal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) administration in several animal models of Alzheimer's disease, with extension of therapeutic benefits into the degenerating hippocampus. In amyloid-transgenic mice, BDNF gene delivery, when administered after disease onset, reverses synapse loss, partially normalizes aberrant gene expression, improves cell signaling and restores learning and memory. These outcomes occur independently of effects on amyloid plaque load. In aged rats, BDNF infusion reverses cognitive decline, improves age-related perturbations in gene expression and restores cell signaling. In adult rats

SUBMITTER: Nagahara AH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2838375 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature